Pique n' your interest

Decision day approaches quickly

This week I realized the clock is ticking and I only have a few days to figure this out. Ever since the writ was dropped the dial hasnt moved from the CBC on the car radio and The National has become part of my nightly routine as I try to figure this all out.

Before I get any further in this column I have to make an immediate disclaimer that I know nothing about federal politics and Im not qualified at all to write about platforms and promises and whos the best party or person.

I hardly even feel qualified to vote, and thats what this column is all about.

Despite tuning in recently Im still just as confused.

I cant be the only one.

I used to have this general philosophy when faced with a tough decision that I really didnt want to make that if I could ignore it, well it would eventually go away.

I think I actually broke up with a boyfriend once by simply ignoring his phone calls.

Failing the ignore tactic, the next best thing was to hold off on making a decision long enough that eventually someone would make the decision for you.

I think another boyfriend actually broke up with me after I employed this tactic.

Theres no doubt that Im not proud of my teenage behaviour and yet I cant help but admit its somewhat appealing when it comes to making a decision on this federal election.

For example, if I simply ignore June 28, and let it slip by with nary a thought to the election and my duty to vote, Im sure I wouldnt have any problem falling asleep that night. Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

Or I could tune out over the next week and make a last minute decision based on sketchy facts, essentially letting someone else make the decision for me by virtue of the fact that I simply havent informed myself.

But havent I matured even just a little from my teenage years?

You would hope so.

I cant help thinking that things might be easier if Canada had a compulsory voting system like Australias. Its a system thats in about 20 different countries around the world, despite what many Australians think!

Belgium, Greece, Switzerland, Brazil, all do it like the Australians. And lets not forget all those people in Liechtenstein too.

You either vote or you get fined. In rare cases you can be jailed if you dont pay the fine.